This paper presents the achievements of the “Rule of Law Revolution” and the role of the Constitutional Court in the different stages of Hungary’s rule of law evolution. Special attention will be placed on the current Hungarian practice of rule of law, the topics of rule of law, constitutionalism and the division of powers within the framework of legal and political constitutionalism will be discussed. The paper also will summarize the views that criticized the activism of the Hungarian Constitutional Court, and those that have laid down the groundwork for the expansion of political constitutionalism after the 2010 Parliamentary elections. Finally, the challenges of rule of law and constitutionalism will be examined, with regard to the role of the Court as the principal organ for the protection of the Fundamental Law in the context of Hungary’s membership in the European Union.

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This essay intends to show the main characteristics of the two phases of the development of Hungarian constitutional justice. The first part examines the operation of the Constitutional Court in the first two periods starting from its foundation. The first period under the chairmanship of László Sólyom may be characterized as having approaching cases from the perspective of natural law, moving away from the statutes of the Constitution then in force (the invisible Constitution), while in the second period, under the chairmanship of constitutional judge János Németh, decisions were based on the interpretation of the text of the Constitution. The second phase of the Constitutional Court is analyzed by presenting decisions made in taxation cases and in employment and civil service dismissal cases, and it deals in detail with the controversial decision relating to the Magyar Nemzeti Bank (the National Bank of Hungary, hereinafter the MNB).

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Due to the effect of historic economic events Hungary learned to react quickly and effectively since this was the only way for the country to remain at the forefront of the global competition of nations. In this continued and long-lasting preparedness, there took shape the values and requirements, such as intellectual and moral excellence and the knowledge enhancement, that are found in the country’s Fundamental Law, which is at the same time the national creed. The National Bank of Hungary, too, has placed its faith in this creed, as since its establishment it has striven to represent national sovereignty. The significance, social recognition and independence of the National Bank of Hungary among the national institutions also involves responsibility and obligations for the central bank. It is evident that independence is not the central bank’s objective, but its instrument that provides the possibility for it to serve the public good, benefit the whole of society and contribute to social wellbeing. The bank carries this out in such a way that it assumes a committed role in developing financial culture and awareness, and the economics and social thinking that form their foundation as well as the related system of institutions and infrastructure. This study highlights the role of educational and teaching reforms, and how attention must be paid to the knowledge connections of novelties in economic sciences that counterbalance the challenges of the globalised world economy and management organisations, and this requires a new approach and practice in Hungary. The various fields of economics satisfy a significant demand and are among the most popular fields of study chosen in Hungarian higher education not only for working in the corporate sector, but also at an institutional level.

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Collegium Talentum, a support system for Hungarian talent beyond the border, has been operating since 2011 in the Carpathian Basin. The aim of the programme is to train young researchers to become scientifically well-grounded specialists by both national and European standards, to attract fresh blood to academic institutions, and to inspire them to convey national cultural values in addition to having a scientific career. The programme supports the progress of 90 young doctoral students, thus significantly contributing to mitigating the crisis caused by the lack of intellectuals beyond the borders. More than 300 intellectuals from all over the Carpathian Basin have been involved in the programme to date, and a successful network has been organized of professors and researchers committed to national values.

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